Vending-machine.



G. F. JOHNSON.

-VENDING MACHINE.

urLIoATIoN FILED umn, 190s.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

G. F. JOHNSON.

VBNDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED mnu, 1909.

Patented Nov. 2,4909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.'

faeyj/'JQ/madn f im l Ww f f r il UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

GRAY F. JOHNSON, F THOMSON, GEORGIA, QASSIGNOR TO M. TURNER AND-J'. A.

HARRTS, BOTH 0F THOMSON, GEORGIA.

y VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

To all 'whom 'it lmay concern:

Be it known that I, GRAY F. JOHNSoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thomson, in the county of McDufie and State oi" Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vending-lilachines, or' which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in ,automatic vending machines. t

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine in the y use of which `a packaged liquid is automatically vended.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an automatic vending machine which is simple, durable and eiicient, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement'of parts hereinafter fully described .and claimed, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

' .wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of an auautomatic vending machine constructed in accordance with my invention. F ig. 2 is a sectional view taken on a plane extending centrally and vertically through the machine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on a plane extending horizontally through the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view illustrating the manner in which a package is delivered from one of the upper receivers .into one of the lower receivers. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the means 'by which the package carrier is rotated, and the electric circuit in which the motor is i included. Fig. 6'is a sectional view illustrating the-means by which the motor cir-v cuit is closed to set the machine in operation. Fig. 7 isa detail perspective-view of the F ig. 8 is a sectional view by which it is controlled. Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating the controlling means for the warning sign. Fig. l0 is a view in side elevation of a modied mannero securing thevpackage receivers and package supporting arms to the standards, and Fig. 11 1s a sectional View taken on the horizontalpplane` indicated by the line 11--11 of. Fig. 10, the package carriers and the package supporting arms being omitted.

designate corresponding parts throughout C the several views.

My improved vending machine comprises a casing which includes inner and outer side walls 1 and 2, respectively, inner and outer bottom walls Band 4, respectively, and inner Aand outer top walls 5 and 6, respectively. The Walls of the casing are relatively spaced to receive between them a.packing 7 of non lconducting material. The top of the casing is provided with an opening 8 which is closed by means of a movable cover 9. The

cover 9 may be secured lagainst unauthorized removal by a suitably constructed lock, not shown. The casing is provided with a base which comprises a side wall 10 and a bottom wall 11, the bottom wall being spaced from the wall 4 to provide a compartment 12.

A vertical shaft 13 is journaled in a bearing 14 carried by the walls 3 and 4 and in a bearing 15 secured to the inner side of the wall 11.4 The upper end of the shaft 13 extends into the casing and. has secured thereto a platform which comprises a hub 15l1 provided with an opening for the reception of the upper end of the shaft, the hub restlngupon a shoulder 16 formed upon the shaft. The platform is held against movement on the shaft by means of a key 17. The platform also includes a plurality of arms 18 secured to and extending radially from the hub 15a, and annular members 19 secured to the upper surfaces of the arms 18.

cured to the platform by means of bolts 21 which engage the members 19 of the latorm and the horizontal bases 22 o A plurality of vertical standards 20 are se-A the l standards. The standards. 2O are vrelatively i spaced and. are arranged in a circle. The upper ends ofthe standards are held against movementby an annular retaining member 23 which is secured to the inner sides of the standards.k A 'pair of relatively spaced and superposed package receivers 'is secured to each standard 20, said receivers being preferably cylindrical, and have their upper and lower ends fully open. The packages 25 arel vdisposed'in the receivers 24 in inverted position and are retained therein by supporting arms 26, which are pivotally secured to the standards 20 below the package receivers.

' The package supporting arms 26 are retained to bring one of the packages in alincment with a discharge opening 29 in the casing. The package carrier includes the platform, the vertical standards 20, the receivers 24, and the package supporting arms 26. It will therefore be seen that thepackage carrier comprises a plurality of pairs of package receivers and package supporting arms, the package receivers and package supporting arms of each pair being positioned one above the other. At a point in'alinement with the discharge opening 29 the track 27. is out away as at to permit the lower supporting arms 26 to successively fall into inoperative position by the weight of the package supported thereby. When an arm is in inoperative position the package supported thereby is discharged through the opening 29 into a receiver 30 which is formed to catch and support the package and from which the purchaser removes the package. After the package has been discharged through the opening 29, its supporting arm is returned to its normal position by means 4of a spring 32, which is secured at one end to the standard 20 and at its other end` to the arm. As the supporting arm is neturned to its normal position after it discharges itspackage, it is again placed f in position to travel upon and be supported by the track. At a point out of alinement with the cut out portion 30 of the lower track 27, the upper track is cut away as at 33 to permit the upper supporting arms to successively fall into inoperative position. lVhen' one of the supporting arms falls into inoperative position,fit directs its package into the lower package receiver.

The package carrier is rotated by an electric motor 34- which isincluded in the normally open circuit35 of a battery 36. The shaft 13 upon which the package carrier is mounted, is connected with the armature shaft of the motor 34 by means of a train of gearing which 'consists of a larOe gear wheel 37 Vfixed on the shaft 13, a smal gear wheel 38 fixed on the armature shaft of the motor, and an intermediate gear 39 meshing with the gears 37 and 38.- A lever 40 is pivotally secured at onev end to the inner side ofthe bottom wall 1l of the base of the casing, one side of the circuit 35 being connected to the pivoted end of the lever, The free end of the lever 40 is supported by a spring41, and when the lever isdepressed a contact point 42 formed thereon lengages a contact plate'43 secured to the inner'side of the bottom 11 of the base of the casing. When the contact 42 engages the Contact plate 43-the circuit is closed, the motor imparting rotation to the package carrier.

Then one of the lower of a pair of package supporting arms 26 reaches the cut out portion 30 of the-lower track 27, it falls and discharges the package supported thereby through the discharge opening 29 into the receiver 31. A further rotation of the package carrier will position the upper of the pair of supporting arms over the cut out portion 33 of the upper track 27, such supporting arm discharging its packa e into the lower receiver. As only one pac age is delivered at a time, the package carrier has only a limited rotary movement. The movement of the packa e carrier is controlled by a detent 44 forme detent wheel 45 journaled upon a shaft 46,

the shaft 46 being provided with a pinionl 47 which meshes with the gear wheels 37. The detent wheel 45 is provided with a recess 48 in vwhich the detent 44 engages when the lever 40 is elevated. The depression of the lever 40 carries the detent 44 out lof the recess 4S lof the wheel 45, and closes the circuit 35, imparting rotary motion to the package carrier. When the detent wheel 45 has made a complete revolution the detent 44 again engages the recess 48, stopping the machine. rthe lever 40 is adapted to be deupon the lever 40 and a pressed by a coin deposited into a coin chute 49' through a coin slot 50. The coin slot 50 is locatedin a casing 51 secured to the side wall 2, said casing being provided with a glass panel 52 through which a warning sign 53 is visible when the machine is empty.'

The sign 53 is slidably mounted upon guide rods 54, and is normally retained in warning position by means of springs 55. The sign 53-is retained out-of warning position by means of a lever 56 which is pivotally se- Y cured to the wall 2 and which is providedl 59 is connected with the lever 56 through the medium of a spring pressed dog 60, and

it is held in its normal position by means of a spring 6l. The lever 59 is engaged by an extension 62 formed upon one of the package supporting arms 26. The connection between the levers 56'v and 59 is such that the extension 62 must engage and operate the lever 59 twice before the sign 53 is released, whereby to permit all ofthe packages in the machine to be vended before the sign is moved-to warning positom The contents of the machine are kept at a low temperature by ice carried in a receptacle 63. rihe receptacle 63 is supported within the casing by means of hooks 64 which engage a iiange 65 formed by the inward extension of the inner wall 5 of the casing and the `wall 66 of the opening 8. The receptacle 63 is provided with'a plurality of openings 64 and water is conveyed therefrom by a drip spout 65 which discharges into an annular member 66 carried by the arm 18 of the platform. The member 66 is provided with a drip spout 67 which discharges into a drip pan 68 mounted in the bottom of the casing.

The operation of my improved vending machine may be stated to be as follows:- Assuming that the machine has been supplied with packages, the coin deposited into the coin slot 50 will be directed by the coin chute 49 onto the coin plate.40a which is.

secured tothe free end of the lever 40, the

' weight of the coin depressing the iever.

The depression of the lever 40 closes thecircuit 35 and withdraws the detent 44 from the recess 48 of the detent wheel 45. As soon as the detent 44 is withdrawn from the recess 48 the motor rotates the package carrier, placing the lower of a pair of supporting arms 26 above the cut out portion 30 of the lower track 27. YVhen the supporting arm has been positioned above the cut out portion, the detent 44 again engages the recess 48 and stops the operation of the machine, whereupon the arm falls and deposits the package supported thereby, in the chute 31. The insertion of another fcoin into the coin slot 50 will depress the lever 40, again' the cut out portion 30 of the track 27, and

the upper arm of that pair whose lower arm fell on the preceding operation of the machine, drops and delivers the package into the lower receiver of the pair, and so on until all of lthe packageshave been vended.

The package receivers 24 and the package supporting-arms 26 may be removably applied to the standards v20 throughl the medium ot' supports 70 to. which the receivers and arms are secured and which are provided with dove-tailed grooves 71 slidably receivingdove-tailed tongues 7 2 on the standards 20. To support the arms 26 -in operative position during the application of the supports to the standards 20, dogs 73 `are pivotally mounted upon the supports for engagement with lugs 74 formed on the arms. Lugs 75 are secured to the standards 20' and throw the dogs 73- out of engagement with the lugs 74 when the supports 70 Vare applied to the standards, whereby to ermit each supporting arm to fall on reach'- ing one 'of the openings 30 or 33.

A register, not shown, is used in *connection withthe vending machine to indicate the numberY of packages sold, and Iit is adapted to be operated through the medium of a spur gear 76. rllhe spur gear 76 is positioned for engagement by a pin 77 secured to and projecting radially from the detent wheel 45, see Fig. 5 of the drawings, the spur wheel being shown in dotted lines in said igure.P l

It should be apparent from the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that l provide a machine which is admirably adapt-ed for vending packaged liquids, such as root beer, ginger ale, and the like.

`While I have described the method of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, Al desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope'ot the claims. f

Tr-Iaving thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new iszl l. A vending machine clomprising a casing provided with a discharge opening, a package carrier rotatably mounted within the casing, a gear wheel fixed to the package carrier, an electric motor geared to the gear wheel', an electric circuit in which the motor is included, saidl circuit being normally open,

a pivotally mounted .lever adapted to close the circuit when depressed, a spring supporting the lever, a detent wheel -provided with a Apinion meshing with the gear wheel, said detent wheel being provided .with a recess, and a detent carried'by the lever Jfor engagement with the recess of the detent wheel. l 2. A vending machine comprising a casing provided with a discharge opening, a plurality of supports rotatably mounted in the casing, package receivers secured to the supports, pivotally mounted arms supporting the packages in the receivers, a track supportingthe arms, said track being provided with a cut out portion alined with the discharge opening, means for rotating the supports, and means for controlling the ro' tating means. 4

3. A vending machine comprising a casing provided with a discharge opening, a plurality of supports rotatably mounted .within the casing, a pair of package receivpackages in the receivers, trackssupporting.

the arms, the `lower track being provided with a cutaway portion alined with the dischairof'e opening, th'e upper track being provided` with a cut away portion out of ahnement with the cut away portion of the lower track, means for rotating the supports, and means for controllingl the. rotating means.

4." A vending machine comprising a casing provided with a discharge opening, a shaft journaled in the casing, a platform secured to the shaft, a plurality of standards secured to the platform, a pair of package receivers secured to each standard, a pair'of arms pivotally secured to each standard and supporting the packages in the receivers,

springs secured to the standards and lo the arms, tracks supporting the arnis, one of the tracks being provided with a cut away portion alined Withthe discharge opening, the other track being provided with a cut away portion out of alinement with the cut away portion of the first-named track, means for rotating the platform," land means for controlling the rotating means.

5. A vending machine comprising a casing provided with a discharge opening, a shaft joiirnaled in the casing, a plat-form secured to the shaft, standards secuied to the platform, package receivers secured to the standards, arms pivotally secured tothe standards l armature shaft of the motor and meshingwith the first-named gear wheel, an electric circuit in which the motor is included, said circuit being normal] open, a lever adapted to be depressed to c ose the circuit,.means for supporting lthe lever, a detent wheel provided witli a pinion meshing with the firstnamed gear wheel and with a recess, aiid a detent carried by the lever for engagement with the recess of the detent wheel.

6. A vending machine comprising a casing provided with a discliar e opening', a plurality of standards rotata ly mounted in the casing, supports removably secured to the standards, receivers secured to the supports, supporting arms pivotally secured to the supports below the receivers, a track supporting the arms, said track being provided with a cut out portion alined with the dischar e opening, means for rotating the stan ards, and means for controlling therotating means.

7. A vending machine comprising casing provided with a discharge opening, a plurality of standards rotatably mounted in the casing, supports removabl `secured to the standards, receivers secure to the supports, supporting arms pivotally mounted upon the supports belovsr the receivers, dogs pivotally secured to the supportsY for engagement with the arms, said dogs being held out of engagement with the arms when thevsupports are applied to the'standards, a track su porting the arms, said track being provide with ka cut out portion alining with the` discharge opening, means for rotating the standar provided with a discharge opening, a package carrier mounted in the casing, a package carrier operating means, means for controllin the operatin means, guide rods, a sign sli ably mounte upon the guide rods., a spring holding the signin warning position, a lever adapted to engage and retain the sign out of warning position, and means on the package carrier adapted to move the lever out of engagement with the s ign.

10. A vending machine comprising va casing lprovided with a discharge opening, means removably mounted in the casing, package receivers mounted upon said means, arms adapted to support the packages in the receivers, a track supporting the arms and provided with a cut out portion, means for operating the first-named means, and means Vtor controlling the operating means.

11. A vending machine comprising a casing provided with a discharge opening, package receivers mounted in the casing, said package receivers being open at their ico upper and lower ends, arms adapted to support the packages in the receivers, a track Y A supporting the arms and providedgwith a cut out portion alined with the discharge opening, means for operating the receivers,

and means for controlling the operatingmeans.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GRAY F. JOHNSON.

` Witnesses:

. U. S. A.GRUER, J. O. SHIELDS. l 

